JP2000195407A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compactly mount a leakage signal output contact in a circuit breaker having leakage display function. SOLUTION: In a circuit breaker projecting a leakage indicating bar 13 by a leakage detecting mechanism 9 at the time of occurrence of leakage, a switching operation element 23c of a leakage signal output contact 25 is integrally formed with the bar 23. At the time of detection of the leakage, the contact 25 is switchingly operated by using linear motion of the element 23c relative to projecting action of the bar 23 to output a leakage signal outside. The other operating mechanism become unnecessary and the element 23c to linear-move needs little motion space by directly switchingly operating the contact 25 by the bar 23, thereby the space required by the operation of the contact 25 can be minimized on the whole.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit breaker having a leakage display function, and more particularly to a distribution board agreement type circuit breaker used for a light distribution board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-described circuit breaker, generally, when a leakage occurs, a tripping electromagnet of a built-in leakage detection mechanism is actuated to release a lock of a spring-biased leakage indicating rod, and the circuit breaker is released. It protrudes from the front.

[0003]

On the other hand, the distribution board contract type circuit breaker requires that the external size be within the predetermined contract size, and there are many structural restrictions due to the internal space. is recieving. For this reason, although there is conventionally a device having the above-described leakage display function, there is no device having a leakage alarm function, that is, a function of transmitting the occurrence of leakage as an electric signal to the outside due to space restrictions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit breaker having a leakage display function, in particular, a distribution board collective circuit breaker, in which a leakage leakage warning function is built in compactly without changing external dimensions.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a leakage detecting mechanism for detecting a leakage and actuating a tripping electromagnet, and when the leakage occurs, the tripping electromagnet is unlocked by an operation of the tripping electromagnet and a sliding operation is performed by a spring force. In the circuit breaker provided with the earth leakage indicator stick protruding from the front surface, the earth leakage signal output contact is arranged close to the earth leakage indicator rod, and the earth leakage signal output contact is switched to the earth leakage indicator rod. The switching operation piece is formed integrally, and the leakage operation signal output contact is switched by the switching operation piece when the leakage display bar projects.
This problem is solved by outputting a leakage signal (claim 1).

That is, a switching operation piece of a leakage signal output contact is integrally formed on a leakage indication bar, and an output contact is switched by utilizing a linear motion of the switching operation piece accompanying a sliding operation of the leakage indication rod. This eliminates the need for a separate operation mechanism such as a configuration for switching the leakage signal output contact via a link mechanism by a tripping electromagnet, and the switching operation piece that moves linearly has less movement space. Therefore, the space required for operating the leakage signal output contact can be minimized as a whole.

In the first aspect, the coil burnout prevention contact of the tripping electromagnet is arranged side by side with the leakage signal output contact, and the coil operation switch is switched by the switching operation piece when the leakage display rod is projected. Preferably, the coil current of the tripping electromagnet is cut off (claim 2). According to the second aspect, the coil burnout prevention contacts are arranged side by side with the leakage signal output contacts, and these are switched simultaneously by the switching operation piece of the leakage display bar, so that almost the same required requirements as in the case of the leakage signal output contacts alone. The function of preventing the coil of the tripping electromagnet from burning can be added in the space.

Further, according to claim 2, a printed circuit board mounted with an electronic circuit of the leakage detecting mechanism for detecting a leakage with a zero-phase current transformer and outputting a drive signal to the tripping electromagnet, and the tripping electromagnet, The phase current transformer, the leakage signal output contact, and the coil burnout prevention contact are preferably connected using a flexible printed circuit board. According to the third aspect, by performing the above connection using the flexible printed circuit board, the wiring space can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the leads are crawl and connected therebetween, and the required space is further reduced. You.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS.
An embodiment of the present invention in a pole type distribution board agreement type overcurrent circuit breaker will be described. First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the entire configuration of the circuit breaker. FIG. 1 is a side view of the right pole side, and FIG.
Is a side view of the left pole side. 3 is a detailed view of a part III in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a part IV in FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the circuit breaker shown is an overcurrent circuit breaker in which a two-pole switch is accommodated within a common width of 25 mm, and the switches are disposed on both sides of a main body case 1 constituting a central bulkhead. The right pole (FIG. 1) comprises a fixed contact 2 and a movable contact 3, and the left pole (FIG. 2) comprises a fixed contact 4 and a movable contact 5.

On the right side (FIG. 1), the current is supplied to the power supply terminal 6 → the fixed contact 2 integrated therewith → the fixed contact 2a.
→ Movable contact 3a → Movable contact 3 → Lead wire 7 → Bimetal 8a of overcurrent trip device 8 → Conductor 11 penetrating through zero-phase current transformer 10 of leakage detection mechanism 9 → Flow side terminal 12 On the left pole side (FIG. 2), the power supply side terminal 13 →
Fixed contact 4 integrated with this → fixed contact 4a → movable contact 5
a → movable contact 5 → lead wire 14 → overcurrent trip device 1
5 flows through the path of the bimetal 15a → the conductor 16 passing through the zero-phase current transformer 10 → the load side terminal 17. These current paths are covered with a pair of left and right covers (not shown) mounted on both sides of the main body case 1.

[0010] In such a circuit breaker, detailed description of the structure and operation of each part is omitted, but the ON / OFF operation of the operation handle 18 protruding from the front of the circuit breaker allows the movable contact to be opened and closed via the opening and closing mechanism 19. While the opening and closing drive of 3, 5 is performed, in the illustrated ON state, an overload current flows and the bimetals 8a, 15a of the overcurrent trip devices 8, 15 are bent, or a large current such as a short-circuit current flows. When the armatures 8b and 15b are sucked, the lock of the latch member 19a (FIG. 2) of the opening / closing mechanism 19 is released, and the spring force of the opening / closing spring 19b that has been accumulated at the time of the ON operation causes
The movable contacts 3, 5 are separated.

When the current flowing in the conductors 11 and 16 penetrating the zero-phase current transformer 10 becomes unbalanced due to the occurrence of electric leakage, the tripping electromagnet 20 (based on the secondary output of the zero-phase current transformer 10). 2) is operated, and the plunger 20a is sucked rightward in FIG. A trip lever 22 rotatably supported by a shaft 21 is connected to the head of the plunger 20a. When the plunger 20a is sucked, the trip lever 22 is turned clockwise in FIG. On the other hand, a bar-shaped leakage indicating bar 23 is provided so as to slide linearly in the vertical direction in FIG.

The leakage indicating rod 23 is slidably guided to the side of the main body case 1 and is fronted by a display spring 24 (FIG. 2) formed of a compression spring inserted between the main body case 1 (FIG. 2). 3), the hook 22a at the tip of the tripping lever 22 always engages with the engaging portion 23a of the leakage indicator bar 23, and as shown in FIG. Is a cylindrical display portion 23b on the head.
Are locked in a state where they are pushed substantially flush with the front surface of the circuit breaker. When the tripping lever 22 is turned by the suction of the plunger 20a, the electric leakage indicating rod 23 becomes a hook 22a.
2 is released, and linearly slides upward in FIG. 2 by the spring force of the display spring 24. As shown in FIG. 3B, the display section 23a protrudes from the front surface of the circuit breaker to prevent the occurrence of leakage. indicate.

In FIG. 1, on the right side of the circuit breaker, a leakage signal output contact 25 composed of a microswitch is arranged in parallel with the side surface of the main body case 1 in the vicinity of the leakage display rod 23. The operation button 25a is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it protrudes to the leakage indication rod side (the right side in FIG. 1). Although not shown in FIG. 1, a coil burnout prevention contact (to be described later), which is also formed of a microswitch, is disposed alongside the leakage signal output contact 25. On the other hand, a switching operation piece 23c for integrally switching the leakage signal output contact 25 and the coil burnout prevention contact is formed at the lower end of the leakage display bar 23.

FIG. 5 shows the leakage indicator rod 23. 5A is a left side view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a right side view. As shown in FIG. 5, the switching operation piece 23c is configured as a flat plate bent in an S-shape parallel to the axial direction (sliding direction) of the leakage indicating bar 23, and an inclined surface is formed at its tip. Adjacent to the switching operation piece 23c, an engaging portion 23b with the trip lever 22 described above is provided, and a semi-cylindrical concave portion 23d receiving the upper end of the display spring 24 is provided on the back side of the switching operation piece 23c. Have been. As shown in FIG. 4A, the switching operation piece 23c is always in close contact with the leakage signal output contact 25 and pushes the operation button 25a. When the leakage occurs, the leakage indicator bar 23 slides toward the front of the circuit breaker as described above, and the switching operation piece 23c moves as shown in FIG. 4B, and the operation button 25a is released from the switching operation piece 23c. Then, the contact of the leakage signal output contact 25 is switched to output a leakage signal.

FIG. 6 shows the leakage detecting mechanism 9, and FIG. 7 shows a printed board case thereof. Here, (A) of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is a left side view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a right side view. FIG. 8 is an exploded connection diagram of the leakage detecting mechanism 9. First, in FIG. 8, a flexible board 26 is used for connection between respective parts, and a printed circuit board on which an electronic circuit for amplifying the secondary output of the zero-phase current transformer 10 and outputting a drive signal to the trip electromagnet 20 is mounted. Numeral 27 denotes a zero-phase current transformer 10 which is superimposed on the flexible substrate 26 and soldered as indicated by a chain line arrow in the drawing.
The tripping electromagnet 20 is connected via a lead wire, and the terminals of a leakage signal output contact 25 and a coil burnout prevention contact (micro switch) 28 are soldered.
Further, lead wires 29 and 30 for operating power supply input are connected to the flexible substrate 26, and these lead wires 2
Reference numerals 9 and 30 are respectively connected to terminals 12 and 17 on the load side.

One end of a lead wire 31 forming a test circuit of the leakage detecting mechanism 9 is connected to a load terminal connection end of the lead wire 30 on the left pole side, and the other end is connected to a resistance element 32.
Are connected to one terminal. And the resistance element 32
The other terminal 32a is used as a fixed contact of a test switch, and is formed in an L-shape as shown. on the other hand,
As shown in FIG. 1, one end of a leaf spring 33 forming a movable contact of the test switch is co-tightened by a screw 34 for tightening and connecting the right pole side through conductor 11 to the bimetal 8a, and the other free end is fixed. When the test button 35 is depressed and located below the test button 35, the leaf spring 3
Numeral 3 is bent so that its free end contacts the terminal 32a of the resistance element 32. Therefore, in the ON state of FIG. 1, the test button 35 is pressed to connect the leaf spring 33 to the terminal 32.
When it is brought into contact with a, the current paths of the left and right poles are short-circuited across the zero-phase current transformer 10, a secondary output is generated in the zero-phase current transformer 10, and the test operation of the leakage detection mechanism 9 is executed.

The leakage detecting mechanism 9 shown in FIG. 6 is constructed by mounting the connecting body shown in FIG. 8 on the printed board case 36 shown in FIG. In that case, the flexible substrate 2
Reference numeral 6 is applied to the front surface of the printed board case 36 (see FIG. 7B), and the connection portion of the printed board 27 is bent at a right angle, and is accommodated and held in the lower chamber 36a of the printed board case 36. Further, the leakage signal output contact 25 and the coil burnout prevention contact 28 are guided and held by a pair of upper and lower protrusions in a rectangular recess 36b on the right pole side surface of the printed board case 36, and are pulled into a rectangular recess 36c on the opposite side. Removal electromagnet 2
0 is stored and held. The tongue-shaped portion of the flexible substrate 26 to which the zero-phase current transformer 10 and the tripping electromagnet 20 are connected via lead wires respectively travels left and right as shown in FIG. 6B. As shown in (A) and (C), it is bent along the side surface of the printed board case 36.

The switching operation piece 23c of the leakage indicator rod 23 has a width that extends over both the leakage signal output contact 25 and the coil burnout prevention contact 28 which are arranged side by side. Both contacts 25 and 28 are simultaneously switched. Further, the coil burning prevention contact 28 is
The normally open contact is inserted in series into the power supply circuit on the right side of the printed circuit board 27, and is normally turned on by pressing the operation button 28a (FIG. 8) by the switching operation piece 23c.
Power supply. Therefore, when the electromagnetic coil 20b of the tripping electromagnet 20 is excited when the leakage is detected and the contact is switched by the sliding operation of the leakage indication bar 23, the contact 28 is turned on.
FF is performed to cut off the current of the electromagnetic coil. The illustrated circuit breaker does not open the circuit breaker itself but only supplies the leakage display and the leakage signal even when the leakage is detected, and the power is supplied to the load side even after the leakage is detected. Therefore, when the tripping electromagnet 20 is actuated, the coil current is promptly cut off by the coil burnout prevention contact 28 to prevent burnout of the electromagnetic coil 20b.

Zero-phase current transformer 1 for printed circuit board 27
As shown in FIG. 9, connection of elements such as 0, tripping electromagnet 20, leakage signal output contact 25, coil burnout prevention contact 28, etc. can be made only with lead wires as shown in FIG. However, connecting the printed circuit board 27 and each element with only the lead wire increases the lead wire,
Crawling them will require a lot of wiring space. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when wiring is performed from the printed board 27 to the vicinity of each element as much as possible by the flexible board 26, each element and the flexible board 26 can be connected with a minimum necessary lead wire. All right,
The wiring space can be significantly reduced.

In the above-described circuit breaker, the leakage signal output contact 25 is directly switched by the switching operation piece 23a of the leakage indicator rod 23 which moves linearly. Such a configuration requires only a small movement space for the switching operation piece 23a that performs a linear motion, and there is no transmission member such as a link mechanism between the switching operation piece 23a itself and the leakage signal output contact 25. The operation space of 25 is reduced, and as shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is possible to incorporate the leakage signal output contact 25 in the distribution board collective circuit breaker. Further, since the coil burnout prevention contact 28 of the tripping electromagnet 20 is arranged side by side with the leakage signal output contact 25 and is operated simultaneously by the switching operation piece 23a, even if the coil burnout prevention contact 28 is provided, the leakage current The required space is almost the same as when only the output contact 25 is used.

The printed circuit board 27 and the tripping electromagnet 2
Since the zero, zero-phase current transformer 10, the leakage signal output contact 25, the coil burnout prevention contact 28, and the like are connected using the flexible printed circuit board 26, the length of the lead wire is kept to a minimum and the lead wire crawls. The wiring space for turning is reduced, and as a result, the required space for incorporating the leakage signal output contact 25 and the coil burnout prevention contact 28 is further reduced.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, even a circuit breaker which is required to be miniaturized, such as a distribution board agreement type circuit breaker, can be provided with a leakage signal output function and a coil burnout prevention function. It is possible to respond to customer needs widely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the circuit breaker of FIG. 1;

3 is a detailed view of a part III in FIG. 2, wherein (A) shows a steady state, and (B) shows a time when a ground fault occurs.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an IV section in FIG. 1, wherein (A) shows a steady state and (B) shows a time when a ground fault occurs.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a leakage indicator rod in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 5A is a left side view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a right side view.

6A and 6B show a leakage detection mechanism in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 6A is a left side view, FIG. 6B is a front view, and FIG. 6C is a right side view.

FIG. 7 shows the printed board case in FIG. 6, (A)
Is a left side view, and (B) is a front view.

FIG. 8 is an exploded connection diagram of the leakage detection mechanism of FIG. 6 using a flexible substrate.

FIG. 9 is an exploded connection diagram of a leakage detection mechanism using a lead wire.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Leakage detection mechanism 10 Zero-phase current transformer 20 Tripping electromagnet 22 Tripping lever 23 Leakage display stick 23c Switching operation piece 24 Display spring 25 Leakage signal output contact 26 Flexible board 27 Printed circuit board 28 Coil burnout prevention contact

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A leakage detecting mechanism for detecting a leakage and operating a tripping electromagnet, and a latch is released by the operation of the tripping electromagnet when a leakage occurs, and linearly slides by a spring force to operate in front of the circuit breaker. A circuit breaker provided with a leakage indication bar protruding from the switching operation piece, wherein a leakage signal output contact is disposed in proximity to the leakage indication rod, and the leakage signal output contact is switched to the leakage indication rod. A circuit breaker, wherein when the leakage indication bar is projected, the switching operation piece switches the leakage signal output contact to output a leakage signal. 2. A tripping electromagnet according to claim 2, wherein said tripping electromagnet has a coil burnout prevention contact arranged side by side with said leakage signal output contact, and said switching operation piece switches said coil burnout prevention contact when said leakage detection indicator sticks out. 2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, wherein said coil current is interrupted. 3. A printed circuit board mounted with an electronic circuit of the leakage detecting mechanism for detecting a leakage current by a zero-phase current transformer and outputting a drive signal to the tripping electromagnet, the tripping electromagnet, a zero-phase current transformer, 3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, wherein the leakage signal output contact and the coil burnout prevention contact are connected using a flexible printed circuit board.